Page 3 - The Black Range Naturalist Vol. 4, No. 3

Maintaining Our Trails By Melissa Green
When Gila Backcountry Horsemen (Gila BCH) Trails Director Gerry Engel worked for the United States Forest Service in 1980’s, he took for granted that the trails on his map were clear and passable. Now, decades later, a backpacker who ventures into the Gila Wilderness encounters many trails overgrown or non-existent. Since the Forest Service funding for trail maintenance dried up, this is, sadly, the case for many wilderness areas and public lands in the U.S. Given that the Forest Service is no longer able to provide the necessary trail maintenance, new solutions must be found. Those solutions are becoming more clear.
Cycle of not maintaining trails
As you know, funding for trail maintenance has decreased substantially over the past 2 decades, while outdoor recreation continues to increase. Lacking the funds to maintain trails has resulted in many trails become “unfollowable” or dangerous. That funnels the increasing numbers of trail users onto the few remaining trails. This, in turn, causes overuse on these trails along with resource damage to the natural environment. In some areas of the US, this overuse creates the need for permits. The Gila region does not need to go through this cycle. If we can keep a wide range of trails open and advertise all the options appropriately, we will protect our natural resource and keep outdoor recreation available to all.
In Dirt Work: An Education in the Woods , Christine Byl explains some of the important aspects of trails and why they need to be maintained.
• “When a tree falls on the trail, hikers don’t climb under or over it, they go around. The impact broadens. In highly used areas without maintenance or planned layout, the damage to vegetation and topography can be extreme....”
• “Trails get people to places for experiences, and experiences in places help people know places and people who know places will sacrifice so these places can thrive.”
In summary, a well dispersed, well maintained trail system prevents overuse issues and damage to the natural resources. The Gila already has a well dispersed trail system. We just need to maintain these trails.
This is where volunteer trail organizations come in. Having volunteers to work on the trails is key, but having people with trail knowledge to organize the trail projects is even more important. I am hopeful that my recent collaboration with Gerry is creating a path forward and creating a space for other interested volunteers to make a difference.
Here is a little of the back story
I worked on the Forest Service Trail Crew in the Gila and Aldo Leopold Wilderness
Melissa Green, photograph by Gabe Etengoff 2